Winding reel



J y 1 1942. G.'P.'T RREN: Em 2,289 3 WIND NG REEL Fil edDec. 12', 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 .JOC 5d |6c 5 4 2 7c 7C lc w 53 QC; 30c.

. I 3c. I

w 4! GEORGE RToRRENcE 3g RICHARD F BERGMANN G foreleg Patented Julyl4, 1942 UNITED STATE s 4 PATENT OFFICE WINDING REEL George P. Torrenoe, Shaker Heights, and Richard F. Bergmann, Lakewood, Ohio, assignors to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1940, Serial No. 369,844)

4 Claims.-

bar members of each reel member are disposed in alternation to the bar members of the other reel member, so that both reel members occupy substantially the same space.

In winding reels of the type with which the invention deals, the axes'of rotation of the respective reel members are inclined to and, if desired, laterally displacedfrom each other. The reel members themselves are so mounted that, during rotation thereof, the thread turns wound about the reel are transferred alternately from the bar members which comprise the periphery of one reel member to the bar members which comprise the periphery of the other reel member. By virtue of the inclined relation of the aforementioned axes, the thread is positively advanced lengthwise of the reel in a plurality of substantially .helical turns.

The structural characteristics of winding reels of this type are governed largely by the diameters of the reel members, which, in turn, are governed by the uses to' which the reels are to be put.- Since the spacing between thread turns is afunction of the inclination of the axes of the reel members and since the number and length of the bar members limit the amount of inclination of the axes, axial compactness is-particularly important in reels of small diameter; e. g., of the order of approximately three inches or less. Obviously, the machining operations involved in making the component parts of such small reels, while preferably of a high degree of accuracy, should be as simple as possible.

The present invention provides a winding reel of relatively small size, but the structural characteristics of the reel may be employed to advantage in reels of practically any diameter. Among other things, the invention employs novel means for supporting and driving the reels, in addition to which the construction of many of the other component parts of thereels is likewise novel. The invention permits increased compactness in such reels; however; many other advantages made-possible by. the invention will become apcross section.

parent as the description of the inventi ceeds.

Although the reels'of the present invention may be employed to advantage in various forms proof strand-handling machinery, they are particularly useful as snubbing devices in threaddoubling and twisting apparatus.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of a unitary winding reel of cantilever construction embodying the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross section of the same reel taken through line 2-2.of Figure 3, the latter being a sectional elevation of the reel as seen from line 33 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the reel-through line 4-41 of Figure 2: while'the lateral displacement of the axes is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inclined relationship is shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 is a cross section of thereel support taken through line 55 of Figure 4..

Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, are views of the natureof sectional elevations of four modified embodiments of the invention corresponding to the view of the preferred embodiment shown in Fi ure 3. Only lateral displacement of the axes of the reel members appears in Figures 6. to 9, inclusive, but the axes of the reel members are in each case inclined to each other as in the reel shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. -Figure 10 is aside elevation of still another reel embodying the features of the present invention; Figure 11, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the reel of Figure 10; while Figure 12 is a cross section of a portion of the supporting means for the reel shown in Figures 10 and 11, more particularly as.

seen from line Il -l2 of Figure 11.

By referring to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it may lever construction in that it is supported from' one end only thereof, the unsupported end being free of obstructions such as supporting means, gears, shafts, etc. It is made up of rigid reel members I and 2, both of substantially circular Reel member I has a threadbearing periphery formed of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending bar members 3 which project from disc 5 in a direction substantially parallel to hub portion I thereof. Ree1 member 2, on the other hand, has a thread-, bearing periphery made up of circumferentially In order to prevent advance of the thread. be-

yond the thread-bearing portion of the periphery of the reel, reel member 2 is provided wth a guard I at the periphery of disc 8 which guard prevents the thread from discharging over the end of the reel. Inasmuch as it prevents the turns of thread from rolling ofl the discharge end of thereel when the reel stops rotating, guard III is a particularly desirable adjunct when such reels are employed in doubling and twisting apparatus. At the same time there is provided on reel member I, at the periphery-of disc 5, a similar guard 9' which extends forward beyond the I rearmost limits of the bar members 4 of reel member 2 in order to prevent the thread from passing beyond the thread-bearing portion of the reel at the supported end thereof.

Reel members I and 2 are so disposed that they occupy substantially the same space, the bar' members thereof being alternately disposed while extending in opposite directions. Each of the reel members is mounted for rotation about its own axis; however,-the axes of the two reel members are preferably, but not necessarily, in what is termed skew relationship. That is to say, .they are inclined to each other in laterally offset'relationship in a manner which causes thread wound about the reel members to be positively advanced lengthwise as explained in detail in Knebus'ch Patent No. 2,210,914. In the reels illustrated in the drawings, line a:--:c represents the axis of rotation of reel member I; line y y, the axis of rotation of reel member 2.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of the invention employs a stationary shaft-like axle designated generally as II 'made up of a supporting segment I2, a first reel-carrying segment I3, and a second reel-carryingsegment I4, which. segments I3 and I4 support reel members I and 2, respectively. Segment I2, while for ease of assembly is of smaller diameter than segment I3, is concentric therewith. It is employed to support the reel as a whole, being rigidlyheld in mounting bracket I5. It is provided as engage a corresponding fiat portion in mounting bracket I5 to prevent rotation of axle I I.

If desired, a slip clutch of the kind shown in Torrence et al. Patent No. 2,217,717 may be provided between axle II and bracket I5, whereby axle II will rotate with the reel members when the torque on axle II exceeds a given amount. In such a case, the reel supported by axle II will cease to function as a thread-advancing device, acting instead as a pulley about which the thread will pass in a-fixed path. Such arrangement may be desirable if, as sometimes occurs, breakage and consequent accumulation of the thread at the discharge end of the reel cause the-reel to become bound.

Segment is likewise somewhat smaller indiameter than segment I3. It is so formed that the axis about which reel member 2 rotates is inclinedto and ofiset laterally from the axis about which reel member I rotates; viz., the axis of segment I3. Inasmuch as axle II is preferably formed of a single piece of material, segments I2, I3 and I4 thereof may be machined to provide the desired relationship between segments I2: and I3 and segments I3 and I4.

Reel member I, whichm'ay be termed the positively driven member, has mounted directly thereon between disc 5 and mounting bracket I5 a driving ear I 6 demountably secured to hub portion I of reel member I by means of set screw shown in Figure 5 with a fiat portionadapted to on the opposite face thereof.

movement of reel member 2 and bushing I8 onaaeaeeo impositively driven member, is caused to rotate about its axis by virtue of contact of at least one of the bar members 3 of reel member Iwith at least one of the bar members 4 of the reel member 2. The reel will of course be driven by gear I6 in such manner as to advance the thread 30 i from left to right as seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

A bushing II, which may be mounted by a press fit on hub portion 1 of disc 5, provides a bearing surface for positively driven reel member I' during its rotation about segment I3 of axle Similarly, a bushing I8 mounted by a press fit on hub portion 8 of disc 6, provides a bearing surface for impositively driven reel member 2 during its rotation about segment I4 of axle II. Such bushings may be of any desired kind, but are'preferably of the oil-impregnated brass type.

The parts of the reel are held together in assembled relation by means of a snap ring III associated with segment I2 of axle I I, the snap ring bearing against the rear portion of supporting bracket I5. Segment I3 of axle II, being of larger diameter than segment I2, abuts a shoulder in supporting bracket I5 on the side opposite snap ring I9, whereby axle II is located endwise in bracket I5. A washer is provided between segment I3 and the shoulder of bracket I5 against which it abuts. Bushing I-l abuts the outside of supporting bracket I5, so that reel member I is prevented from moving rearward on axle II beyond the portion of segment I3 which serves to support it. I

Bushing I8, associated with hub portion a of reel member 2, abuts the face of a collar 2| on axle II between segments I3 and I4. Collar 2| prevents forward movement of reel member I on axle II and also prevents rearward movement of reel member 2, since bushing Il abuts collar 2I Moreover, forward supporting segment I4 of axle II is prevented by means of a cap screw 22 threaded into the end of segment I4 of axle II. Preferably disc 6 has formed therein a countersunk recess 23in which cap screw 22 is seated.

Figure 6 represents a-similar reel comprising a positively driven reel member la and an impositively driven reel member 2a, said reel members being rotatable about axes in skew relation. Each reel member is provided with bar members, respectively designated 3a and 4a. Disc 5a and hub portion Ia of reel member Ia embody a gear member IGa formed integrally therewith. From gear I60, which is driven from a suitable power source, rotational movement is transmitted through gear member IBa to reel member 2a, as by contact of one or more bar members 3a of reel member Ia with one or'more bers 4d of reel member 2a.

Guard 9a of reel member Ia, which, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, takes the form of an integral flange, extends radially beyond the thread-bearing periphery of the reel, as does also uard Illa of reel member 2a. At the same time, the latter projects toward the supported end of the reel as a whole beyond the limits of bar members 3a of reel member Ia, thus forming a recess in which arereceived the ends of bar members 3a. A similar recess .is provided in reel member Ia for receiving the endsof bar members 4a of reel'member 2a.

Axle Ila of the reel of Figure 6 has supporting segment I2a thereof threaded in suitable fashion 20. Reel member 2, which may, be termed the into supporting bracket I5awhich, in turn serves as a shield for gear member IM. A slot 'lfla,

bar memrotates.

formed in bracket Ia, accommodates gear I60 which meshes with gear member I6a as herein before described. Bracket I5a, which is shown as cup-shaped, may be mounted on a suitable supporting structure by supporting rods, clamps, set screws or other convenient means.

' Inasmuch as axle lla is securely mounted totheir respective axes .r and y upon segments I30.

and Ma as shown in Figure 6.

Figure '7 represents a generally similar reelin of reel member 2d. During rotation ofthe reel. one or more bar members 3d contact one or more bar members M to cause reel member 2d to rotate upon bearing I8dabout boss I5I, which is, in effect, a part of supporting'bracket I5d although it is demountably attached thereto.

Boss I5I is urged against retainer ring 38 and held in place by set screw39 threaded intosupporting bracket I5d, which bracket in turnmay be mounted on a supporting structure in much the same manner as brackets I5a, I5b or I5c.

, Supporting bracket I5d may be mounted on the which a separate, demountable spur gear Ifib is mounted on hub portion lb of reel member Ib, to which it is held by set screw 20b. Rotational movement is transmitted to the reel from gear I6I. Supporting bracket I5b resembles supporting bracket I5a of the reel of Figure 6: for instance, slot 40b in bracket I5b accommodates gear I6I. However, the construction differs in that axle .I lb is formed integrally with bracket I511; wherefore segment I2b, which in this'case is of a diameter slightly greater than that of segment I3b, also forms a part of supporting bracket I5b. Other features of this reel, generally speaking, are similar to those shown in Figure 6.

The reel illustrated in Figure 8 dilfers somewhat in construction from the reels shown in of the reel supporting structure in such a way that gear I6d will be shielded from possible entanglement of thread therewith. Moreover, bracket I5d is.provided with a slot d through which gear I63 passes inmeshing with gear I6d. Preferably, supporting bracket I5d extends over the supported end of the reel far enough to prevent thread passing thereto from becoming entangled in the reel.

Reel member Id is provided with a guardv 9d,

,formed integrally with disc 5d; i.'e., at the supported end of reel member Id, so as to prevent discharge of thread over the end of the reel.

The reel illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 is capable of 'advancing extremely heavy materials, including heavy rope, wire, cable, tubing, strip material, etc. The means for supporting the reel takes the form of bracket 24, provided with lugs 25 such that the unit may be inserted in a gearbox or other housing. The bracket may be secured to such housing by passing bolts through bolt holes II in lugs 25. Removably mounted in bracket 24 is a supporting member l5e which has formed integrally therewith a boss I52 which also serves as a support for the reel.

Figures 1 to 7, inclusive. The relationship of the a I positively driven and impositively driven reel members is "the same, but axle He is not stationary nor is it made up of a plurality of segments. Axle He is rigidly mounted, during construction of the reel, in disc 6cof reel member 20,

I knurled portion 50 servingtobind the shaft to the reel member in such relation that there can be no relative rotation therebetween. quently, axle IIc rotates when reel member 2c Such rotation is transmitted through gear I6c from a suitablepower source associated with gear I62 to reel member Ic. By contact of bar members 30 of reel member Ic with bar members 4c of reel member 2c, both reel members rotate at the same angular speed.

Supporting bracket I5c in this embodiment of the invention has a hollow boss I50 formed integrally therewith in such a manner that the inner surface of hollow boss I50 carries axle He.

The outer surface of hollow boss I50 is so formed as to permit reel member Ic to rotate on bushing Conse- I10 about an axis in skew relationship to the axis I of rotation of axle IIc. Bushing I80 is disposed between shaft He and the inner surface of hollow boss I50. Bracket I5c is similar to brackets I5a and I5b; slot l0c,for example', accommodates gear I62 which meshes with gear I60, as already described. 7

A reel 'of a slightly different type is shown in Figure 9. It is characterized by the fact that shaft I'Id is rotated positively, through gear I6d mounted thereon, from a gear I63 which is driven from a suitable power source. Since reel member Id is rigidly mounted on the unsupported end .of -..shaft Ild, the bar members 3d thereof are The supporting member I5e is held in place in bracket 24 by a set screw 39. i

A driving stub 5| (shown 'indotted lines) engages axle IIe in the recess 52 formed in the supported end thereof. During rotation of the reel axle He is carried by anti-friction bearings- 26 in supporting member I5e and by bearings Zll in boss I52. At the unsupported end thereof, axle I Ie carries positively driven reel member Ie,

which is held in place by a set screw 28 threaded into the unsupported end of axle I Ie. The impositively driven reel member 2e rotates about boss I52 in offset and inclined relation to reelmember Ie, being carried by anti-friction bearings 29..

Reel members Ia and 2e are provided with ported ends of bar members 3e of reel member Ie extend into recesses 36 in disc 6e, while the un-.

supported ends of bar members 4e of reel member 2e extend into recesses 31 in disc 5e, thus precluding the possibility of entanglement of the thread in the interior of the reel members.

directed toward the supported end of the reel.

At the unsupported end of the reel are provided means for preventing bar-to-bar contact of reel members Ie and 2e. Such means comprise a.

spur gear 32 suitably mounted on and attached to reel member 2e and an internally toothed an- It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention. 7 I

What is claimed is: 1. A winding reel comprising two rigid reel members of generally circular cross section which occupy substantially the same space but which are nevertheless adapted to rotate about axes in inclined relation to each other, said reel members cooperating to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns, a

and, in combination therewith, a normally stationary reel-supporting axle upon the surface of which said reel members rotateabout mutually inclined axes. I

2. A winding reel of the character described in claim 1 wherein one of said reel members has associated therewith means through which rotary movement may be imparted to said reel members.

3. A winding reel of .the character described in claim 1 wherein one of said reel members has formed integrally therewith gear-like means through which rotary movement may be imparted to said reelmembers.

1 relation to each other so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; and a normally stationary reel-supporting axle provided with two longitudinally adjacent supporting segments,

- one of said segments supporting said first reel member during rotation thereof and the other of said segments supporting said second reelmember during rotation thereof.

- L 6. A windingjreel comprising a first rigid reel member of generally circular cross section adapt- 1 ed to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a second rigid reel member 01 generally circular cross section adapted to'rotate about its longitudinal axis, said reel members having their axes in oflset and inclined relation so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; a normally stationary reel-supporting axle upon which said reel members are mounted for rotation about their respective axes; and, operatively associated with oneof said reel members, means for transmit-' ting rotary movement to said reel members.

7. A cantilever winding reel comprising a first reel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a

second, reel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, said reel members having their axes in inclined relation to each other so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; a cup-shaped bracket adapted to support said reel; and, projecting from the interior of said bracket, a normally stationary axle upon the surface of which said reel members rotate about their respective axes.

8. A cantilever winding reel of the character described in claim 7 wherein means are provided between said bracket-and said reel members through which rotary movement may be imparted to said reel members.

9. A cantilever winding .reel comprising a. first reel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a secondreel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about its longitudinal the axes of figure of at least two of said surfaces being in inclined relation to eachlother.

10. A winding reel comprising a first reel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a second reel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, said reel members having their axes in inclined relation to each other so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; means operatively associated with one of said reel members for positively rotating said reel member; and a freely rotatable axle upon which the other of said reel members is mounted, said last-mentioned reel member and the axle on which it is mounted being rotated by said positively rotated reel member.

11. A winding 'reel comprising two rotatable reel members of generally circular cross section the periphery of each of which is made up of longitudinally extending bar members, said reel members being adapted to rotate about axesin inclined-relation to each other so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise oi the .reelin substantially helical turns; a rotatable axle adapted to transmit rotary movement to one of said reel members; meansvfor transmitting rotary movement from suchpositively driven reel member to the other reel member while maintaining the bar members of said members out of contact; peripheral projections formed integrally with said reel members to prevent the discharge of thread orthelikeover the, ends of the reel; and, associated" with said peripheral projections, recesses in each of said reel members into which the bar members of the other reel member extend.

12. A winding reel comprising two rigid reel members of generally circular cross section the periphery of each of which is made up of longitudinally extending bar members, said reel members being adapted to rotate about axes in inclined relation to each other so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; means operatively associated with one of said reel members for positively rotating said reel member; means for transmitting rotary movement from said positively rotated reel member to the other reel member while maintaining the bar 'members of said reel members out of contact; peripheral projections formed integrally with said reel members, said projections serving to. prevent the discharge of thread or the like over the ends of the reel; and, associated with said peripheral projections, recesses in said reel members adapted in each case to receive the ends of the bar members of the other'reel member.

' A winding reel comprising two rigid reel members of generally circular cross section the periphery of each of which is made up of longitudinally extending bar members, said reel members being adapted to rotate aboutaxes in inprojections formed integrally with said reel members, said projections serving to prevent the 'clinedrelation to each other so as to enable them. v -to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; peripheral Y X 5 14. A winding reel comprising a firstrigidreel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate aboutits longitudinal axis; a second rigid reel member of generally circular cross section adapted to rotate about itslongitudinal axis, said reel members having their axes in iii-- clined relation to each other so as to enable them to advance thread or the like lengthwise of the reel in substantially helical turns; a cup-shaped bracket adapted to support said reel; and, disposed within said cup-shaped bracket, gear means gfor positively rotating one of said reel members.

(mom P. TORRENCE.- RICHARD 1". 3mm. 

